Jay Sexton
Even today when we had our first snowfall, it almost complicated our meeting. Overseeing snow and ice control operations for the municipal buildings being one of his responsibilities, Jay was up at 4 AM to attend to this task. Even though it was a light sprinkling, he had to make sure that the walkways and driveways were safe for Borough employees and visitors.
It seems strange that this task was assigned to a man who has devoted years of education to attain a license as a Certified Landscape Architect (CLA). But then again, there isn’t too much landscaping to do when it is winter and snowing.
One doesn’t realize the amount of time, effort and education that an aspirant has to exert in order to obtain a CLA. Of course he was asked! A product of the Paramus School system (he went to school with Mindy, one of my five offspring, another thing in common), Jay became interested in the environment and ecology. At that time there were only 21 universities that offered programs accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects, ASLA.
He took a five-year course at the University of Georgia, graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, became a member of the ASLA, and started in this field in North Jersey. Attaining his license as a CLA which requires a lengthy exam including design problems and standards is only the beginning. Issued yearly, the N.J. State Board of Architects and Certified Landscape Architects, a division of Consumer Affairs, requires that he keep updated annually by attending courses to be able to maintain his yearly renewal. Jay is the proud holder of License # 123. His boss, Bill Comery, who is the Superintendent of the Shade Tree and Parks Commission, is also a Certified Landscape Architect and a Certified Tree Expert.
In explaining the broad field of landscape architecture, Jay cited golf course design, a specialty within landscape architecture, he has design knowledge of golf courses, but would go to a specialist should he be called upon to produce one. When I mentioned that Botany was the only subject in my 16 years of schooling that I had ever failed, he was quick to point out that Botany is the study of plants while landscape architecture requires knowledge of plants, engineering, and architecture to create enjoyable, functional outdoor living spaces.
Married to Alexandra, a computer systems analyst, they have two daughters who are both juniors. Sarah in college while Jackie attends high school. Oh yes .. those sobriquets. When the Sexton family was together and someone called Joe, there were responses from around the room. So Joseph the III was called Jay. Serving on the Paramus Volunteer Fire Department with his father, fellow firefighters continued to call him Jay, while others call him Joe. That is the reason he responds to many names.
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